“Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

The rightful place in the home is for parents to act, as it were, in the place of God. The father and mother direct and guide their youthful offspring, often suffering themselves for the wounds of their children. A child is not rebellious, it looks to its source for counsel; but, however, when one of them refuses to accept the lawful commandments of its parents it has been likened to rebellion against God.

This precept therefore prohibits, not only all injurious acts, irreverent and unkind speeches to parents, but enjoins all necessary acts of kindness, filial respect, and obedience. God requires the children to provide for their parents, as He required the parents to feed, nourish, support, instruct, and defend the children when they were in the lowest state of helpless infancy. (Dr. Adam Clarke)

That thy days may be long. Dr. Clarke also notes, as did the Apostle Paul, (Deut. 5:16 it is said, And that it may go well with thee.

We may therefore conclude that it will go ill with the disobedient. As children are bound to succor their parents, so parents are bound to educate and instruct their children in all useful and necessary knowledge, and not bring them up in ignorance or idleness. They should teach their children the fear and knowledge of the Lord, for how can they expect affection or dutiful respect from those who have not the fear of God before their eyes?"

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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